"covering" in the noun sense
1. covering, natural covering, cover
a natural object that covers or envelops
"under a covering of dust"
"the fox was flushed from its cover"
2. covering
an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
3. cover, covering, screening, masking
the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it
"the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft"
4. covering
the act of protecting something by covering it
5. application, coating, covering
the work of applying something
"the doctor prescribed a topical application of iodine"
"a complete bleach requires several applications"
"the surface was ready for a coating of paint"
"covering" in the verb sense
1. cover
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
"cover her face with a handkerchief"
"cover the child with a blanket"
"cover the grave with flowers"
2. cover, spread over
form a cover over
"The grass covered the grave"
3. cover, continue, extend
span an interval of distance, space or time
"The war extended over five years"
"The period covered the turn of the century"
"My land extends over the hills on the horizon"
"This farm covers some 200 acres"
"The Archipelago continues for another 500 miles"
4. cover
provide for
"The grant doesn't cover my salary"
5. cover, treat, handle, plow, deal, address
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
"This book deals with incest"
"The course covered all of Western Civilization"
"The new book treats the history of China"
6. embrace, encompass, comprehend, cover
include in scope include as part of something broader have as one's sphere or territory
"This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds"
"this should cover everyone in the group"
7. traverse, track, cover, cross, pass over, get over, get across, cut through, cut across
travel across or pass over
"The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day"
8. report, cover
be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism
"Snow reported on China in the 1950's"
"The cub reporter covered New York City"
9. cover
hold within range of an aimed firearm
10. cover
to take an action to protect against future problems
"Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself"
11. cover, cover up
hide from view or knowledge
"The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White House"
12. cover
protect or defend (a position in a game
"he covered left field"
13. cover
maintain a check on especially by patrolling
"The second officer covered the top floor"
14. cover, insure, underwrite
protect by insurance
"The insurance won't cover this"
15. cover, compensate, overcompensate
make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
"he is compensating for being a bad father"
16. cover
invest with a large or excessive amount of something
"She covered herself with glory"
17. cover
help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities
"She is covering for our secretary who is ill this week"
18. cover
be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of
"Is this enough to cover the check?"
19. cover
spread over a surface to conceal or protect
"This paint covers well"
20. shroud, enshroud, hide, cover
cover as if with a shroud
"The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery"
21. breed, cover
copulate with a female, used especially of horses
"The horse covers the mare"
22. overlay, cover
put something on top of something else
"cover the meat with a lot of gravy"
23. cover
play a higher card than the one previously played
"Smith covered again"
24. cover
be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
25. brood, hatch, cover, incubate
sit on (eggs
"Birds brood"
"The female covers the eggs"
26. cover, wrap up
clothe, as if for protection from the elements
"cover your head!"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
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